Wrap-around splicing tool and clips



March 6, 1962 T. E. YTRELAND 3,023,416

' WRAP-AROUND SPLICING TOOL AND CLIPS Filed Jan. 2l, 1960 F/q. Z

United grate This invention relates to clip constructions for splicingelectrical conductors together and to tools for applying the clipconstructions to the electrical conductors.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel clip structure, ofsimple and inexpensive construction, for splicing electrical conductorstogether.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel closeable clipstructure for splicing electrical conductors together and includingcurved end portions arranged and constructed to be rolled into clampingrelation with the electrical conductor when pressure is applied thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tool for readilyapplying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel tool forapplying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced and including aclamping means arranged and constructed to cause a clip to be rolledinto clamping relation with a plurality of electrical conductors.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedtool for applying clips to electrical conductors to be spliced andincluding a clip dispensing maga- .zine for readily disposing the clipsin position for clatnplng action.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fullyappear from the following description, made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of my novel clip structure;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the open end of the novel clipconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the novel clip construction shown inclamping relation with a pair of electrical conductors;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a novel tool for use in applyingclips to electrical conductors;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the tool illustrated in FIG.4 and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a top plan View of a different embodiment of the tool withparts thereof broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 withcertain concealed portions thereof indicated by dotted lineconfiguration.

One feature of my invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes a novel clipconstruction, generally designated 10, for use in splicing electricalconductors or cables together. Clip 10 may be formed of a malleablebrass material or the like and is especially adaptable in the splicingof smaller sized electrical conductors ordinarily referred to asbuilding wire. It is to be understood, of course, that the clip is alsoadaptable for splicing electrical conductors used in communicationsystems, vehicles or the like.

Clip 10 includes an arcuate central portion or body 11 having a pair oflegs 12 integrally formed therewith and extending divergently therefromas best seen in FIG. 1. Legs 12 terminate in inwardly curved endportions 13 which are axially spaced apart when the clip is in the openposition. The outer curved surfaces of curved ends 13 define cammingsurfaces 14, the function of which will be described hereinbelow. Curvedend portions 13, as

arent seen in FIG. 2, terminate in beveled ends to thereby defineoppositely facing complementary surfaces 15.

When a plurality of electrical conductors, such as wires C, are to bespliced, the ends of the wires are positioned within the recess 10adefined by the central portion, legs and curved end portions of the clip10. Pressure is exerted against the camming surfaces 14 of curved endportions 13 and the inner curved surfaces 14a of the end portions willslide or roll along the outer circumferential surfaces of the wires C.The clip will therefore be rolled into clamping relation with the wiresC, as best shown in FIG. 3, and the oppositely facing beveled surfaces15 will then be disposed in abutting relation so that the clip assumes aring-shaped configuration. During this movement of the clip, a wipingand rolling action is effected upon the outer circumferential surfacesof the conductors so that not only are the wires securely splicedtogether but a positive electrical connection is attained even if thewires have not been previously cleaned.

It will bepnoted that the progressive gripping and clamping effectexerted against the wire C is distributed equally over the grippedcircumferential surfaces of the wires so that the danger in damaging thecable is practically precluded. Thus substantially the entire innercircumferential surface of the clip 10 is in clamping relation with thewires so that the wires are securely connected in spliced relation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another important feature of my invention isshown and includes a novel tool 16 used for applying the clips 10 to thewire C to be spliced. The novel tool 16 includes a frame in the form ofan elongate clip-dispensing magazine 17 having peripheral wallsincluding opposed side walls 1S, bottom wall 19 and top wall 20.Magazine 17 may be loaded through the rear portion thereof with aplurality of clips 10 arranged in end-to-end relation and the front endof magazine 17 is provided With a clip outlet 21 through which the clips10 are urged in singular fashion. Bottom wall 19 is provided with anelongate slot 19a extending longitudinally thereof from the clip outlet21 as best seen in FIG. 5.

A pair of camming members 22 in the form of vertically disposed platesare integrally formed with side walls 18 and extend longitudinallyforwardly thereof. It will be noted that the inner opposed faces ofcamming members 22 are tapered vertically downwardly to thereby definecamming surfaces 23, the function of which will be describedhereinbelow.

A guide element 24 is integrally formed with each of the camming membersand includes a transverse or web portion 25 disposed in co-planarrelation with its respective camming member. Each of the web portions 25are provided with longitudinally spaced inturned ears 26 which areintegrally formed with the web portion.

It will be seen that tool 16 is provided with an elongate actuatinglever or handle 27 including a substantially straight rear portion 27awhich is offset downwardly and forwardly as at 27b and terminates in asubstantially straight forward portion 27C. It will be noted thatactuating lever 27 is of channel-shaped cross sectional configurationand includes a web portion 28 and side iianges 23a. The front portion27e of actuating lever 27 is provided with a pair of downwardly strucktabs 29 which are disposed in laterally spaced relation and each ofwhich is provided with an aperture formed therein. An apertured lug 30is secured to and extends upwardly from the median portion of top wall20 and is positioned between tabs 29 so that the respective openingsthereof are in registering relation and a pin 31 is passed through theopenings to thereby pivotally secure the actuating lever 27 to magazine17. It will be seen that actuating lever 27 is mounted on magazine 17for pivoting about an axis substantially parallel to a line extendingbetween and substantially normal to the camming members 22. A leafspring 32 is secured to top wall 20 by any conventional securing meanssuch as rivets 33 or the like and also engages the under side of therearmost or hand grip portion 27a of actuating lever 27. Spring 32, ofcourse, urges front portion 27c of lever 27 downwardly with respect tomagazine 17 so that the side anges 28a of the front portion are instraddling relation with the magazine 17 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The front portion 27C of actuating lever 27 is provided with a reducedforwardly extending portion 34 which supports a bracket attachment 35 asbest seen in FIG. 6.

Bracket attachment 35 is comprised of a U-shaped member 36 which ispositioned above and secured to another U-shaped or channel member 37. Apair of pins 3S extend between the flange portions of channel member 37and provide a pivotal support for a pair of jaws 39. It will be notedthat arcuate jaw elements 39 are disposed in laterally spaced relationand are pivotable about longitudinal axes extending normal to the axisof pivot of the actuating lever 2.7. The arcuate jaw elements 39 arepositioned between camming members 22 and are normally positioned inco-axial relation with the clip outlet 21 when the front portion ofactuating lever 27 is urged downwardly.

Each of the arcuate jaw elements 39 includes a leg portion 40terminating in an inwardly curved end portion 41 formed integrallytherewith. It will be noted that leg portions diverge outwardly anddownwardly with respect to each other and the outer curved surface 42 ofthe curved end portions 41 bear against one of the respective camsurfaces 23. The inner surfaces of each of the jaw elements 39 delineopposed arcuate jaw faces 43 shaped to conform generally to the outersurfaces of the clip 10. Each of the jaw elements 39 is also providedwith an inwardly extending lip 44, as best seen in FIG. 6, which servesto limit longitudinal movement of the clip when urged into engagingrelation with jaw elements 35. The spring clip 45 is secured to channelmember 37 and engages the jaw faces 43 to normally urge the jaw elements39 away from each other. The elongate guide element 46 is secured to theinner surface of topwall 20 and engages channel member 37 to limitupward movement of the clip 10 with respect to the jaw elements 39 andalso functions to guide the clips into engaging relation with the jawelements.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that magazine 17 is providedwith a closure member 47 for closing the rear end thereof and which maybe opened to permit loading of the clip elements therein. A coil spring48 is carried by the inner side of closure member 47 and has a plunger49 affixed to the other end thereof which serves to urge the clipslongitudinally of the magazine 17 through the clip outlet 21 and intoengagement with arcuate liaw elements 39.

When tool 16 is used to splice a plurality of electrical conductorstogether, the front end portion 27 of actuating lever 27 will be urgeddownwardly by the spring 32 so that the arcuate jaw elements 39 arepositioned in coaxial relation with feed outlet 21. A clip 10, ofcourse, will be urged through clip outlet 21 into engaging relation withjaw elements 39 and the ends of a plurality of electrical conductors maybe positioned within the recess 10a of the clip. The slot 19a in bottom19 permits the tool to be positioned in straddled relation with respectto some of the conductors to be spliced thus facilitating the splicingoperation. The rear end portions 27a of actuating lever 27 is thenpivoted downwardly to thereby urge the front end of actuating lever 27upwardly whereby the jaw elements 39 will be moved vertically intocamming relation with camming surfaces 23. As the jaw elements 39 moveupwardly, the cam surfaces 23 being in bearing engagement with the camengaging surfaces 43 of the jaw elements 39 will urge or pivot the jawelements towards each other thus causing the clip 10 to be rolled intoclamping relation with the electrical conductors. When actuating lever27 is released, the front end portion 27C thereof will thereafter beurged downwardly by tension spring 32 and the clip will therefore bereleased.

Another important feature of my invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,includes a different embodiment of a tool for applying clips toelectrical conductors to be spliced and is generally designated by thereference numeral S0. Tool 50 includes a frame 51 which is comprised ofa pair of flat plate members 52 disposed in substantially opposed,spaced relation. Plate members 52, as best seen in FIG. 7, are ofsubstantially rectangular shape and a pair of arcuate jaw elements 53are positioned therebetween and are pivotally secured to the plate mem--bers 52 by pivot pins 53a. The inner opposed surfaces of jaw elements53 define opposed arcuate jaw faces 54 for receiving a clip therein asseen in FIG. 7. It will also be noted that jaw elements 53 are pivotallymounted on the frame S1 intermediate their extremities to permit the jawelements to pivot arcuately about substantially parallel axes.

Tool 50 also includes a pair of actuating levers 55 positioned betweenplate members 52 and each is comprised of a handle portion 56 and ashank portion 56a. Each of the actuating levers is also provided with anelongated slot 57 intermediate the ends thereof and through whichextends a pivot pin S8 which in turn is secured to plate members 52.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the free end portions ofshank portions 56a are bifurcated as at 59. The rear extermities ofarcuate jaw elements 53 are each positioned Within one of the bifurcatedrecesses 59 and are secured thereto by a pivot pin 60. It will be notedthat when the jaw elements are disposed in the open position, theactuating levers 55 diverge outwardly from the jaw elements 53.

To operate the tool 50, a clip 10 embracing a pair of electricalconductors C is positioned between the arcuate jaw faces 54 and thehandle portions 56 of actuating levers 55 are pivoted towards eachother. This movement of actuating levers 55 causes arcuate jaw elements53 to be moved arcuately towards each other to thereby progressivelyroll the clip 10 into clamping relation with the electrical conductor C.Since the arcuate jaw elements 53 are pivoted in an arcuate manner, theactuating levers 55 are simultaneously shifted longitudinally withrespect to frame 51. The slot and pin arrangement between the actuatinglever and frame, of course, define a lost motion connection and whichpermits both pivoting and longitglinal shifting of the levers.

It vihll therefore be seen from the foregoing description that I haveprovided a novel clip construction for splicing electrical conductorstogether and which is arranged and constructed to be rolled into cammingrelation with the electrical conductors. It will also be noted that mynovel clip is uniquely constructed to effect a wiping action withrespect to the electrical conductors durthe splicing operation to thereby operation to thereby provide a positive electrical connection.

It will also be seen that I have provided a novel tool for applying myunique clip construction to electrical conductors to be spliced. Mynovel tool, as noted from the preceding paragraphs, is arranged andconstructed for quickly and efficiently splicing electrical wires tothereby effect a saving in time and labor.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention which consists of the mattershown and described herein and set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

-A tool for applying splicing clips to electrical conductors to bespliced comprising a frame having a pair of camming members axedthereto, said camming members being disposed in spaced apart relationand having opposed inolined camming surfaces, an elongate actuatinglever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame forswinging movement about an axis disposed parallel to a line extendingbetween said camming surfaces and substantially normal thereto, a pairof jaw elements pivotally mounted `to one end of said handle forpivoting movement towards and away from each other about axes disposednormal to the axis of pvot of said actuating lever, said jaw elementsbeing disposed between said camming surfaces and having outer portionsbearing thereagaiust, and pivoting movement of said actuating levercausing said jaw elements to be moved into and out of camming relationwith said camming surfaces.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,879Golling n Dec. 3, 1895 689,721 Holland Dec. 24, 1901 948,574 Conn Feb.8, 1910 1,066,801 Diamond July 8, 1913 1,220,298 Vanderveld Mar. 27,1917 1,257,061 Yetton Feb. 19, 1918 2,756,427 Van Zante July 31, 1956

